The 11 most anticipated debuts at the New York Auto Show

Luxury, performance and practicality will shine at the 2015 New York Auto Show

The Lincoln Continental, Nissan Maxima and Lexus RX are some of the top debuts you can expect at this year's New York Auto Show.Handout

OVERVIEW

With winter on its way out for another year, the Big Apple is playing host to the last major auto show of the season.

This year’s New York Auto Show promises to be as glitzy as Geneva. We’re finally going to see the Cadillac CT6 go toe-to-toe with not only Germany’s finest, and Lincoln is reviving one of its most storied nameplates. McLaren will be taking the wraps off an all-new model, while the redesigned Chevrolet Malibu and Kia Optima are set to shake up the midsize sedan segment.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest debuts confirmed for New York. This year’s show kicks off on Wednesday, and you can keep tabs on us through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest.

The Cadillac CT6, teased here in the automaker’s new series of TV commercials, will also debut a new family of V6 engines.

The ATS and CTS are both fantastic vehicles from GM’s luxury division, but Cadillac needs a range-topping sedan. It’s not quite the flagship sedan we’ve been hoping for, but the CT6 is taking on the base versions of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, Lexus LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. We got our first uncovered glimpse of the CT6 during this year’s Super Bowl – and Cadillac definitely has a lot resting on the CT6’s shoulders. With the promise of cutting-edge technology and a new twin-turbocharged, 400-horsepower V6 engine under the hood, Cadillac needs to get the CT6 right if it wants to take on Germany’s most posh sedans.

It might look like a scaled-up version of the new XE sedan, but the 2016 JaguarXF is completely new under the skin. First and foremost, there’s a new platform that, with the extensive use of aluminum throughout, is some 120 kilograms lighter than the outgoing car. Combined with your choice of two supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engines – one with 340 horsepower and the other good for nearly 380 – and the option of rear- or all-wheel drive, the new XF is set to be much more agile.

Kia is pushing the design envelope even further with the 2016 Optima. It’s not that the outgoing model is unattractive, but with an overall look inspired by the Sportspace concept from Geneva, the 2016 Optima is much more striking. Kia is tight-lipped on the details, but the Korean automaker did say we can expect a handful of engine options, meaning we’ll likely see a normally-aspirated four-cylinder, a range-topping turbo-four and a hybrid version, much like the Hyundai Sonata.

Building on the success of the all-new NX compact crossover, Lexus is working on the latest generation of its RX SUV. Sharing its underpinnings with the Toyota Highlander, the new RX will likely grow in size compared to the current model and despite the size, the RX will keep its weight down with the use of aluminum throughout the chassis. Like the current model, expect to see both hybrid and gasoline variants.

Just as Cadillac is preparing a range-topping sedan of its own, Lincoln is returning to its roots with the Continental. It might be just a concept, but Ford wholeheartedly intends to build it next year as a replacement for the aging Lincoln MKS sedan. The look is everything we expect from a BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class competitor, and not to mention, entirely worthy of the pedigree behind the Continental nameplate. Under the skin, the Continental is powered by a 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6, said to be exclusive to Lincoln.

The latest model to join the McLaren lineup is the 570S. Billed McLaren’s “entry-level” model in the new Sports Series lineup, the 570S is set to take on the likes of the Audi R8 and Porsche 911 Turbo with a detuned version of the company’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V8. Like the name suggests, the 570S pumps out 570 PS, or 562 horsepower. Of course, expect the requisite dose of carbon fibre and aluminum under the skin to keep the weight down.

It might have a new name, but the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is simply a refreshed version of the existing ML with a restyled front and rear fascia, wheels and a new name. Powertrain options are identical to the ML, but with one new addition – the GLE is now available as a plug-in hybrid variant. With a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6 paired to an electric motor, the GLE 500e is rated at a respectable 436 horsepower and 479 lb.-ft. of torque. Of course, the 550-horsepower Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 and 577-horsepower GLE 63S should scratch your itch if performance is what you’re after.

Nissan is harkening back to the days of the “four-door sports car” with the 2016 Maxima. It will wear Nissan’s new distinctive V-motion design language and a “floating” roof like the Murano, but to live up to the four-door sports car mantra, the Maxima needs far more than just the 3.5-litre V6 and six-speed automatic combination found in the current model.

With Scion FR-S sales tapering off, Toyota‘s youthful nameplate needs a hit. Or two, as shown by two new models destined for New York. The first will be the Scion iA, the brand’s first four-door sedan. Built on the same underpinnings as the 2016 Mazda2, we’ll see the iA in Canada badged as the Toyota Yaris sedan. Scion’s second debut will be the production version of the iM, a decidedly promising hatchback that is essentially a rebadged version of the European-spec Toyota Auris.

The Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 are the mainstays in the North American pickup truck market, but Honda is looking to make a return. After taking a brief hiatus due to slow sales, the Ridgeline is set to make a return and go on sale next year. We’ve already seen a sketch, but Honda hasn’t said exactly when we’ll see the new Ridgeline debut. New York seems like the most likely choice.